sergeant at arms
Americannoun
noun
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an officer of a legislative or fraternal body responsible for maintaining internal order
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(formerly) an officer who served a monarch or noble, esp as an armed attendant
Etymology
Origin of sergeant at arms
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"The sergeant at arms has confirmed that Senator Bato is no longer in the building," Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano told a news conference, using Dela Rosa's nickname.
From Barron's • May 14, 2026
The dress code was updated soon thereafter by Martha Pope, the first female sergeant at arms.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025
They all listened as the sergeant at arms announced “hear ye, hear ye, all persons are commanded to keep silent under pain of imprisonment” during the course of the impeachment trial.
From Slate • Apr. 19, 2024
Authorities are “monitoring the situation and are prepared to share important information with the Senate community as the situation warrants,” the sergeant at arms said.
From Washington Times • Mar. 21, 2023
The sergeant at arms gave him a long, unimpressed look and blinked slowly, once.
From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
